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Lieu vs. Loo vs. Lue
Due to its unusual Francophonic spelling, many people misspell lieu (which appears most often in the phrase in lieu of) as loo or lue. We even have evidence for people assuming the phrase is inlu of. It is, in fact, in lieu of. Lieu as a standalone noun means “place” and it’s now archaic. You can remember the spelling of lieu by using the mnemonic “lieu in everyday use.”
Examples of lieu in a Sentence
I have decided that in lieu of a going-away shower, those who wish to go in on a nice gift for her can see me after church.
—
Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home, 1989
Many of those pigs live here. Do they ever wonder why their masters walk upright in lieu of going on all-fours?
—Charles Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation, 1842
But when she read, and re-read with the closest attention, the particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions to the living, of his receiving, in lieu, so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home, 1989
Many of those pigs live here. Do they ever wonder why their masters walk upright in lieu of going on all-fours?
—Charles Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation, 1842
But when she read, and re-read with the closest attention, the particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions to the living, of his receiving, in lieu, so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Recent Examples on the Web
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be directed to the Self-Realization Fellowship.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025
The payment satisfies the city’s housing policy that requires developers to either set aside a percentage of affordable units or pay an in-lieu fee.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
The evening was slightly chaotic and quickly unsynchronized as the first dinner group, which included Sunisa Lee, Fabolous and more, ignored initial invitations to sit in lieu of sunset views of the East River from the 63rd floor balcony.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025
In lieu of an SRO, staff at the middle school purchased new walkie-talkies for school personnel to communicate, Aller said.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025
The payment satisfies the city’s housing policy that requires developers to either set aside a percentage of affordable units or pay an in-lieu fee.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
The evening was slightly chaotic and quickly unsynchronized as the first dinner group, which included Sunisa Lee, Fabolous and more, ignored initial invitations to sit in lieu of sunset views of the East River from the 63rd floor balcony.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025
In lieu of an SRO, staff at the middle school purchased new walkie-talkies for school personnel to communicate, Aller said.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
Cite this Entry
“Lieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieu. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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lieu
noun
archaic
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